This course introduces students to the rigors and discipline of the writing process, stage by stage, from choosing a topic, to collecting information, brainstorming, planning and outlining, drafting, revising and editing, to proofreading and finalizing. Each stage is punctuated with assignments and exercises that familiarize students with the rhetorical modes, from description, to comparison/ contrast, narration, classification, extended definition, cause-effect, and argument. In in-class and at home work, students will practice producing grammatically correct and logically sound claims, arranged in coherent paragraphs; understand and develop the thesis statement; learn to distinguish between primary and secondary sources; learn to annotate sources, and incorporate quotes in their writing with proper lead-in sentences and follow-up; begin familiarizing with citation styles; learn to use information technology, from research to writing and formatting.

The course is a study of American literature from the colonial, though the romantic, realist/naturalist, modernist and contemporary literary periods, with particular focus on the major writers Particular emphasis is placed on the diversity and representativeness of American literature.

This course examines Italy and its impact on British and American writers, investigating the complicated ways Italy figures in the Anglo-American imagination. Selected readings, discussion and analysis from the writings of Hawthorne, James, Wharton, Forster, Lawrence, Pound and others will be discussed.

Using examples from Juvenal to Jon Stewart, this course examines elements of comedic and satiric technique, style, and genre. It will investigate the psychological, social, and political functions of laughter and comedy, as well as satire’s most common targets and its various forms. Through practical exercises, literature, and screenings of TV, film, and stand-ups, students will explore what and why we find some things funny.

A seminar in which students select a publication, production or research project to complete over the course of two semesters. Students are required to choose a project in creative writing (fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction), or a scholarly thesis, work with an advisor to complete their projects over the course of their final two semesters as seniors.

This course prepares students to plan, research, and write academic-level research papers au- tonomously. Students are guided through all writing stages, from preparing an articulated re- search proposal, to collecting sources and arranging them in an annotated bibliography, to out- lining, drafting, and, finally, completing the paper in accordance with current MLA guidelines. Each stage is also punctuated with writing drills in the form of in-class essays, citing and quot- ing drills in the form of worksheets, annotation drills on select academic sources related to the class theme, and a thorough overview of the use of library resources, both material and elec- tronic. Students will also practice discussing and explaining their project in workshop sessions.

This course serves as an introduction to the variety of forms and themes of dramatic literature. Major problems treated by dramatists will be examined, as well as genres: tragedy, comedy, farce, melodrama, tragicomedy, and the thesis play.

This course is an overview in literary editing for publication. We will explore in-depth the publishing industry for both writers and editors. Students will develop skills such as copyediting, revision, query letters, literary critique and analysis, and submitting and reviewing work.

This workshop instructs students in the mechanics of travel writing from research, interviewing techniques and pitching editors to crafting essays and articles for newspapers, magazines, books, and the internet.

A seminar in which students select a publication, production or research project to complete over the course of two semesters. Students are required to choose a project in creative writing (fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction), or a scholarly thesis, work with an advisor to complete their projects over the course of their final two semesters as seniors.

This course is a seminar on the principles of effective expository writing with a focus on the critical perspectives and theories that enliven contemporary literary, art, and cultural studies. Through an historical survey of critical theory, including an introduction to relevant terminology, the course will cover various types of arguments, appropriate to different concerns and cultural contexts. The theory addressed in this course spans theories of race, class, gender and national identity, postmodern and poststructuralist perspectives, Marxist critique, and psychoanalytic approaches. Writing assignments will provide students with the opportunity to apply these theories to literary works, film, painting, and built space.

This introductory level literature class is designed to help students acquire the skills for reading, appreciating, writing, and critically analyzing fiction. This course intends to introduce the students to basic concepts about literary technique, elements of fiction, and innovation while honing their critical thinking skills.

This course introduces students to the development of the ‘fairy tale’ genre as part of the broader literary folklore and children literature tradition. This course is designed to explore the rich tradition of fables, fairy tales, and legends, examining their origins, and cultural significance. The course will introduce students to the evolution of the ‘fairy tale genre’ and its popularization starting with its origin to be found in King Arthur’s early depictions, culminating during the ‘Golden Age of Children Literature,’ over the 18th and 19th century in works such as Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood, Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz and Barrie’s Peter Pan, ultimately ending with retelling of fairy tales during the late 20th century with Angela Carter and Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes. The course will also familiarize students with the modern ‘fairy tale genre’, lastly showing how the genre has shifted to this day post Disneyfication. The course will consider how these tales have been adapted, reinterpreted, and passed down through generations, as well as how they reflect universal themes of morality, identity, and the human condition.

This is an upper-level writing intensive course that focuses on the technique of writing about various arts using journalism’s forms, principles and ethics.